The 2012 Seattle International Film Festival begins on May 17th, 2012! In the next few days, we will be providing film previews for our top SIFF picks of the year. Times and dates are subject to change, so please visit siff.net before heading to theatres, or see HERE for all film preview coverage, including film selections from other regions of the world.

4 DAYS IN MAY

Germany/Russia/Ukraine
Directed by Achim von Borries

Set in 1945 and based off a true story, 4 Days Of May follows the days before the official end of World War II. The Germans have already lost, but as soldiers and civilians both learn how to deal with the change, drama and unconventional decision-making ensue.

THE CHEF

Jean Reno stars in this comedy about a high-end chef who has lost his flair and a relative nobody whose mind is bursting with ideas.

June 2nd @ 6:00pm, Egyptian Theatre

THE CROWN JEWELS

Sweden/Denmark
Directed by Ella Lemhagen

When a woman sets out to avenge her brother’s murder, she reveals a fantastical, imaginatively shot gothic tale involving mysterious keys, secret hiding places, and the fate of two families who are forever intertwined.

KRYPTONITE!

Italy
Directed by Ivan Cotroneo

In this charming ode to 1970s psychedelia, Peppino is an awkward nine-year-old with family issues. While his mother (Valeria Golino) recovers from a betrayal, Peppino’s super-mod aunt and uncle take him to love-ins and demonstrations.

L

Greece
Directed by Babis Makridis

In this absurdist, deadpan comic debut, a professional driver who lives in his car and delivers honey to a narcoleptic man goes through a mid-life crisis when another driver threatens his very specialized profession.

THE MONK

MY DAD IS BARYSHNIKOV

Russia
Directed by Dmitry Povolotski, Mark Drugoi

Set circa 1986, this charming end-of-Soviet-era tale (BILLY ELLIOT meets GOODBYE LENIN!) follows an irrepressible youth enrolled at a strict dance academy, who pretends that his father is the famous dissident dancer, Mikhail Baryshnikov.

NORTH SEA, TEXAS

Set in 1970s Belgium, Bavo Defurne’s FIPRESCI Award-winning film is a sensitively rendered coming-of-age story about an introverted boy’s developing crush on his hunky next-door neighbor.

May 25th @ 6:30pm, Harvard Exit
May 26th @ 11:00am, Harvard Exit

RED ROAD

United Kingdom/Denmark
Driected by Andrea Arnold

A documentary-like thriller/horror, where a woman chases down a spectre she sees on numerous video cameras. The film remains gripping all the way until the end.

June 9th @ 11:00am, Harvard Exit

SALT WHITE

Georgia
Directed by Keti Machavariani

Waitress Nana, policeman Niko, and homeless teen Sopo are restless, each dreaming of better futures. When they intersect in a resort town on Georgia’s Black Sea coast, none of their lives will remain the same.

VOLCANO

Iceland
Directed by Runar Runarsson

Retired janitor Hannes is brusque and distant with his wife and grown kids, but is compelled to re-examine his familial relationships following his wife’s stroke in this moving, delicately played drama about love that has grown old.

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Written by

Vivian Hua (華婷婷) wears a lot of random hats, but has somewhat mastered globetrotting like a hobo and evading traditional 9-to-5 work schedules. She enjoys observing human idiosyncrasies perhaps more than anything and is a magnet for homeless people (a joy) and bug bites of all types (absolutely terrible). Through her work, she hopes to embrace the temporary while documenting the nostalgic, using divination and dream symbolism as guides through the cosmic maze. Additional writing, art, video, and other crap, like her astrological chart, can be seen at www.inallthings-patterns.net. She is the Editor-in-Chief of REDEFINE magazine, and quite appreciates unsolicited personal e-mails just to shoot the shit and narrow the gaps between human beings.